McCain-Palin movie at center of dispute

NEW YORK, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- The writer of a television movie about the 2008 McCain-Palin U.S. presidential campaign says he never agreed to give campaign staffers access to the script.

Danny Strong, the writer and co-executive producer of the upcoming HBO film "Game Change," denied he misled former McCain-Palin staffers.

McCain-Palin adviser Jason Recher said last week Strong promised access to "Game Change" ahead of its March 10 debut, a claim Strong denies.

"I am adamant -- adamant -- that I never promised to show him the script because I never promised anyone I'd show them the script," Strong told The Hollywood Reporter.

Former campaign staffers have complained that "Game Change," based on the book of the same name by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, characterizes Palin as uninformed about global affairs.

Recher said he tried to convince Strong the book was rife with inaccuracies. He also said he would not attend the premiere of the film.

Strong said he's invited many Palin allies to the film's debut.

"We invited [them] to our premiere in D.C., which would be before the movie aired," Strong said. "So, if they wanted to make comments -- attack the film or praise the film, whatever they want -- they would have time to do so."

"I thought we had a really good relationship on this project, until I was stunned to see what he [Recher] said yesterday," Strong said.

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